[RFI] Noise Level During Power Outage

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

I am green with envy - my local line noise is currently "only" S5

73, Pete N4ZR

On 2/1/2023 12:26 AM, K9MA wrote:
> That table didn't come out very well at all. Here's a link to the pdf:
>
> https://sdellington.us/hr/RFI/Power%20Outage.pdf
>
> 73,
> Scott K9MA
>
> On 1/31/2023 11:21 PM, K9MA wrote:
>> My QTH is in an older residential area, surrounded by overhead power 
>> lines. Line noise is a constant problem. We recently had a major 
>> power outage, so I measured the noise levels to get a baseline with 
>> little line noise. (See below, assuming it comes through.) The outage 
>> was pretty large: there was no power within a kilometer or so, 
>> perhaps further to the west. The levels I measured shortly after 
>> power was restored the next morning are fairly typical lately. To the 
>> NE, it wasn't so bad, only increasing 5-8 dB when the power came on. 
>> West was much worse, 7-19 dB. I've long known there was a major noise 
>> source to the west. I guess it's time to track it down.
>>
>> I suspect these levels are fairly typical of a residential area with 
>> overhead lines. They would probably be worse if I hadn't been doing 
>> battle with the utility for the past 30 years to get the worst of the 
>> sources fixed. One thing this data shows, which I've long suspected, 
>> is that the distribution lines are the major source of noise. There 
>> are some transmission lines just a few hundred meters away, but I've 
>> never traced any significant noise to them.
>>
>> It may say something about the sad state of our utility's 
>> infrastructure: A car knocked down a pole about 1 km from my QTH, and 
>> it took out the power up to 2 km away, with power surges causing 
>> extensive damage to appliances, etc. (None at my place.) Just down 
>> the street, far from the downed pole, we had a major fireworks show 
>> and nearby a transformer exploded. Apparently, similar things 
>> happened throughout the affected area. Did they forget the fuses?
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> Scott K9MA
>>
>